OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe frequent users of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) conveyed to a Singapore tertiary hospital, focusing on a comparison between younger users (age <65) and older users in diagnoses and admission rates. METHODS: All patients conveyed by EMS to a tertiary hospital 4 times or more over a 1-year period in 2015 had their EMS ambulance charts and Emergency Department (ED) electronic records retrospectively analyzed (n = 243), with admission the primary outcome. RESULTS: The 243 frequent users were analyzed with a combined total of 1,705 visits, out of a total of 10,183 patients with 12,839 visits conveyed by EMS to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in 2015. Younger frequent users (<65 years age) were found to be predominantly male (79.6%, p = 0.001) and were on average responsible for more visits than elderly frequent users (8.6 vs. 5.7, p = 0.004). Medical co-morbidities were significantly more prevalent in older users. Younger frequent users were more likely to be smokers (60.2% vs. 22.3%), heavy drinkers (51.3% vs. 8.5%), substance abusers (12.4% vs. 0.8%), and bad debtors (49.6% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.001). A larger proportion presented with altered mental states (11.7% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.001) and alcohol related diagnoses (34.7% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001). Many were picked up from public areas (45.5% vs. 19.6%, p < 0.001), and had lower acuity triage scores at both EMS (p < 0.001) and ED (p = 0.001). They had lower admission rates (40.5% vs. 78.7%, p < 0.001) and shorter length of stay (4.3 vs. 5.9 days, p < 0.001). Univariable and multivariable analysis showed alcohol related diagnoses, history of alcohol abuse and lower triage scores were less likely to require admissions. CONCLUSION: Frequent EMS users consume a disproportionate amount of healthcare resources. Two broad subgroups of patients were identified: younger patients with social issues and older patients with multiple medical conditions. EMS usage by older patients was significantly associated with higher rates of admission.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe frequent users of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) conveyed to a Singapore tertiary hospital, focusing on a comparison between younger users (age <65) and older users in diagnoses and admission rates. METHODS: All patients conveyed by EMS to a tertiary hospital 4 times or more over a 1-year period in 2015 had their EMS ambulance charts and Emergency Department (ED) electronic records retrospectively analyzed (n = 243), with admission the primary outcome. RESULTS: The 243 frequent users were analyzed with a combined total of 1,705 visits, out of a total of 10,183 patients with 12,839 visits conveyed by EMS to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in 2015. Younger frequent users (<65 years age) were found to be predominantly male (79.6%, p = 0.001) and were on average responsible for more visits than elderly frequent users (8.6 vs. 5.7, p = 0.004). Medical co-morbidities were significantly more prevalent in older users. Younger frequent users were more likely to be smokers (60.2% vs. 22.3%), heavy drinkers (51.3% vs. 8.5%), substance abusers (12.4% vs. 0.8%), and bad debtors (49.6% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.001). A larger proportion presented with altered mental states (11.7% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.001) and alcohol related diagnoses (34.7% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001). Many were picked up from public areas (45.5% vs. 19.6%, p < 0.001), and had lower acuity triage scores at both EMS (p < 0.001) and ED (p = 0.001). They had lower admission rates (40.5% vs. 78.7%, p < 0.001) and shorter length of stay (4.3 vs. 5.9 days, p < 0.001). Univariable and multivariable analysis showed alcohol related diagnoses, history of alcohol abuse and lower triage scores were less likely to require admissions. CONCLUSION: Frequent EMS users consume a disproportionate amount of healthcare resources. Two broad subgroups of patients were identified: younger patients with social issues and older patients with multiple medical conditions. EMS usage by older patients was significantly associated with higher rates of admission.
Authors: Hanzhang Xu; Ying Xian; Fung Peng Woon; Janet Prvu Bettger; Daniel T Laskowitz; Yih Yng Ng; Marcus Eng Hock Ong; David Bruce Matchar; Deidre Anne De Silva Journal: Stroke Vasc Neurol Date: 2020-04-08
Authors: Helen A Snooks; Ashrafunnesa Khanom; Robert Cole; Adrian Edwards; Bethan Mair Edwards; Bridie A Evans; Theresa Foster; Rachael T Fothergill; Carol P Gripper; Chelsey Hampton; Ann John; Robin Petterson; Alison Porter; Andy Rosser; Jason Scott Journal: BMC Emerg Med Date: 2019-12-28
Authors: Anqi Chen; Scott Fielding; X Joan Hu; Patrick McLane; Andrew McRae; Maria Ospina; Rhonda J Rosychuk Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2020-10-12 Impact factor: 2.655